Emerson

Announced as a «Sporting Gamble» by Frédéric de Saint-Sernin, Emerson’s experience in the French League turned a real disaster. Virtually unknown in Europe, the Brazilian striker had been terrorising defences in Japan and Qatar, scoring impressive numbers of goals throughout his career. Aged 28, he arrived in France to try and prove his value in a club where Brazilians had never managed to find success. Emerson was not to be the one. Joining a squad with high attacking potential, he never (…)

Stéphane N’Guema

A 2003 Gambardella Cup winner, Stéphane N’Guema’s early career was plagued by numerous injuries. A really unfortunate situation, as the youngster had been the good surprise of the early 2003-2004 season. He then experienced real difficulties to come back to his best and the professional team, only grabbing rare appearances for three seasons At the end of a perfectly blank 2006-2007 season, he was released on a free transfer and signed a contract with Istres, then playing in National (3rd (…)

Youssouf Hadji

At his arrival in Rennes, Youssouf Hadji joined Laszlo Bölöni, who had offered him his first games in the French first league with Nancy. Rarely included in the starting eleven, Mustapha Hadji’s little brother started his Rennes career on a high, scoring three goals for his first three games (including one in the 2005/2006 UEFA Cup). Despite his visible envy, he never managed to convince neither Laszlo Bölöni nor Pierre Dréossi, the latter leaving him on the substitute bench on a regular (…)

Alexander Frei

Arrived in Rennes during the 2003 winter transfer window, Alexander Frei took some time to find his marks under Vahid Halilhodzic’s management, scoring only one goal in 13 games. However, once launched by Laszlo Bölöni, on a League Cup evening in Auxerre, the Swiss international could not stop scoring, netting 41 goals in two seasons, even becoming Ligue 1’s top goal scorer in the 2004-2005 season. Targeted by the Borussia Dormund for several seasons, and despite a last season plagued by (…)

Benjamin Moukandjo

Presented as a future great striker, even labelled the “new Samuel Eto’o”, Benjamin Moukandjo never managed to live up to these high expectations. Arrived in Rennes in July 2007, his first season was spoilt by numerous injuries, and he never managed to become a regular in the Reserves team. Loaned to Sannois Saint Gratien, in National (3rd level), he didn’t succeed in getting much playing time there either. In Summer 2009, he was transferred to Nimes (Ligue 2), hoping to relaunch his career (…)

Damien Le Tallec

Anthony Le Tallec’s young brother is one of the best strikers in his generation. A strong-minded striker, he relies mostly on his impressive heading ability, but also on very solid technical skills. After many years playing for the youth teams in Le Havre, he joined Rennes’ Academy aged 15. Two years later, he became the youngest professional player in the team. Disappointing on the pitch (4 goals in 21 games with the reserves, for his last season in Rennes) and (too) impatient to get his (…)

Daniel Moreira

An highly experienced player, with over 300 games in Ligue 1, Daniel Moreira’s profile seemed ideal to replace Rennes favourite, Alexander Frei. With 69 goals in 10 Ligue 1 season, his partnership with John Utaka was full of promise, especially since the two men had already partnered with success for the RC Lens. However, in Brittany, Daniel Moreira lost all sort of efficiency, not managing to score a single goal in two seasons. Loaned to Grenoble in 2008-2009, he was transferred to (…)

Sylvain Wiltord

Ten years after, Sylvain Wiltord’s return in his first professional team was one of the “feel good stories” of the 2007 summer. A prodigal son of the Stade Rennais, “Nino” has experienced everything, from his beginnings in Division 2, all the way up to a European Championship title and a World Cup final with France. After long negotiations with Lyon, the 92-caps man came back to his initial red and black colours, to help Rennes become one of the strongest places in the French football (…)

John Utaka

In Rennes, he was THE attraction of the 2005 summer transfer window. John Utaka, twelve goals during the 2004-2005 season (including a hat-trick against Rennes) was arriving on the banks of the Vilaine, to bring his pace and strength to the team. Rather unconvincing in the first half of the 2005-2006 season, especially in front of the goals, “John U” showed all his potential following two hat tricks in two games, against Lens and Lyon. His rising form pulled Rennes forward for an incredible (…)

Olivier Monterrubio

Olivier Monterrubio joined the Stade Rennais in Summer 2001, from the local arch-rival FC Nantes. The left-footed midfielder managed a very quick adaptation on Rennes’ attacking line, and was soon accepted and loved by his supporters. Despite a very average second season, and a difficult relationship with the coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, “Rubio” went on to become a key member of Rennes’ squad. Finishing the league with the most assists in three consecutive seasons, his association with (…)

John Mensah

«Strong, Rigorous, Powerful» : These ase the words J.J. Perrier Doumbé used to sum up John Mensah’s qualities. The Ghanaian international was loaned to Rennes in late January 2006, to stabilise a defensive line often struggling to cope during that season. The “Rock from Djiporta” soon proved his recruiters right, and was immediately loved by the Rennes support. The instant success of his loan was soon materialised, when he signed a three years contract with the club from Brittany. (…)

Samuel Souprayen

A central defender, equally able to play as a left full back, Samuel Souprayen is one of the most promising young Rennes players at his position. Captain of the 2008 Gambardella Cup Winning squad, simple, efficient, down to earth, Samuel Souprayen has all it takes to make it to the highest level. He will now have to keep on improving, in order to make his way into Frédéric Antonetti's tactics.

Hicham M’Laab

Fabrice Catherine

An experienced goalkeeper, born and trained in Caen, Fabrice Catherine joined the Stade Rennais for the 2007-2008 season. Arriving as the third choice keeper, he kept himself fit and ready to cover any unavailabilities of Simon Pouplin or Patrice Luzi, while working closely with the young keepers from the Reserve and Academy. Having previously played for Sedan, Laval, Tours, and even Estoril in Portuguese second division, Fabrice Catherine signed a one year contract with Rennes in July (…)

Aurélien Hérisson

Andreas Isaksson

Recruited very early by the Juventus Turin, Andreas Isaksson came back to Sweden, at Djurgardens IF, before eventually arriving in Rennes. Formerly Van der Sar’s substitute in Italy, the Swedish international came to replace former Rennes favourite Petr Cech, in the supporters’ hearts and on the pitch. Sometimes decisive, the Swede lacked of regularity to live up to the club’s great expectations. After two seasons in Rennes, Isaksson was transferred to Manchester City. He is now playing is (…)

Simon Pouplin

At the end of an interesting spell as Andreas Isaksson’s substitute, Simon Pouplin soon became Rennes’ first choice goalkeeper. His former mentor, Christophe Lollichon, talking about him, recognised he had an “obvious talent. He is someone who always analyses his performances, always looks for what is best and works hard to reach it». His 2007-2008 season, however, was much harder to manage, so much that Patrice Luzi ended up taking over the number one spot. When Nicolas Douchez arrived in (…)

Christophe Revault

As Isaksson left for the Premier League, Rennes’ management had to compensate his departure by recruiting a new goalkeeper. Eventually, Christophe Revault came back to Rennes, where he had already played between 1998 and 2000. 34 years old, he came as Simon Pouplin’s substitute, offering him all his help and experience for the 2006-2007 season. In June 2007, he decided to leave and come back to his first ever club, Le Havre AC

Adailton

Just crowned an U20 World Champion with Brazil, a team he was captaining, Adailton arrived in Rennes in summer 2004. Gifted with a great sense of anticipation, a good tackler and very strong in the air, Adailton had everything to succeed in Brittany. A regular starter during his first Rennes season, he was the main victim of John Mensah’s arrival and Grégory Bourillon’s emergence in central defence. Left with the Reserves, his misfortune worsened when he was victim of a serious knee injury, (…)

Guillaume Borne

An usual starter for Rennes' U18 Rand occasionanaly the Reserve, Guillaume Borne benefited of a series of injuries in the first team’s defence, to see his Ligue 1 career launched on a derby against Lorient, in December 2006. After he signed his first professional contract in June 2007, the man from Tarn disappointed for his second season at the highest level, only appearing in 10 occasions for the professional team, and failing to impress with his performances. After a disappointing loan in (…)

Grégory Bourillon

Trained at the club’s academy, this athletic player can equally play as a defensive midfielder or as a central defender. Often injured during his early Ligue 1 career with Rennes, he actually managed to make his way into the first team, player as an anchor in midfield, and despite the competition at this position. In winter 2006, he is pushed back to play along John Mensah in central defence, immediately forming a very complementary partnership with the Ghanaian. Considered as a high (…)

Amadou Coulibaly

Arrived in Rennes in summer 2005, Amadou Coulibaly was soon left on the sidelines after a serious injury, which condemned him to a nearly void first season. The powerful right back tried his best afterwards, to try and get his chance in the first team, but numerous injuries hindered his ambitions in Rennes. He eventually left the club in 2007, two years after he first arrived, with no appearance in the professional team and only a handful of games with the Reserve.

Erik Edman

Arrived in Rennes at the end of a disastrous month of August 2005, the Swedish international full back brought immediate stability to a very shaky defence. Regular in his good performances and highly professional, Erik Edman was one of the most valuable players in the “Rouge et Noir” squad during his first season in Brittany. Unfortunately, he then failed to live up to his initial performances, and Pierre Dréossi opened the door to his exit in January 2008, when he was transferred back in (…)

Jacques Faty

A member and Captain of the 2003 Gambardella Cup winning team, “Doudou” Jacques Faty has confirmed the hopes put on him, little by a little. His good performances in Renne’s central defence made him a regular in the French U21 selection. However, Mensah’s recruitment and Bourillon’s repositioning as a centre back left him mainly on the bench, casting a gloom over the end of his 2005-2006 season. Tempted to leave the club during the 2006 summer, Jacques Faty eventually decided to stay in (…)

Gilbert Manier Muvunyi

Mario Melchiot

Mario Melchiot, a 29 years old Dutch international, joined Rennes in July 2006, signing a one year contract in Brittany. Trained at the Ajax Amsterdam, he also played for Chelsea FC and Birmingham City FC. At the end of his contract with Birmingham, relegated in the Championship, Melchiot decided to use the French Ligue 1 to bounce back his career. At the end of an excellent season, he eventually decided to go back to England, signing a contract with Wigan to many supporters’ dismay A (…)

Gaëtan Caro

Abdeslam Ouaddou

A Moroccan international Abdeslam Ouaddou struggled to prove he had the ability to be in charge of Rennes’ defence. The target of many criticisms during his stay in Rennes, particularly because of his many defensive blunders, he was left on the bench by the combination of an injury and the emergence of Mensah and Bourillon’s partnership. At the end of his contract, he eventually decided to sign in Greece, for Oympiakos Piraeus, before coming to Ligue 1 soon, signing in Valenciennes.

Vincent Pajot

Trained as a defensive midfielder, Pajot is characterised, on the pitch, by high work rate and disconcerting maturity for a player of his age. A member of the 1990 generation and a 2008 Gambardella Cup winner, Pajot went on to become one of the base-men in Laurent Huard’s Reserve team, even receiving the captain’s armband for the 2009-2010 season. At the term of his intern contract, he signed his first professional deal for a year, with an option for another two years. Eager to toughen up (…)